THIS IS MY STORY–104
MY JOURNEY THROUGH THE ERA OF AYUB KHAN TO THE TIMES OF IMRAN KHAN.
GHULAM AKBAR………..
Maulana Kausar Niazi Woos Away Nazir Naji
Around this time, Nazir Naji my deputy editor had been wooed away by Maulana Kausar Niazi whom I had known since Kohistan days when he still hadn’t divorced Jamaat-i-Islami. He had been a regular visitor, to get his statements published. This practice had been continued in Mashriq too, as he had somehow managed to win the confidence of Enayat Sahib. Whenever I used to go to Mashriq to see Enayat Sahib, I used to find him there. As I have already mentioned the offices of Mashriq and Mussawar were on the opposite sides of the Mcleod Road.
Maulana often used to express his desire to visit our office, thinking that it was a place where he would find ‘glamour’.
“Nothing of the sort Maulana, “I used to tell him”. It is a dull place where persons like me work. If you want to witness and have the feel of glamour, I can arrange your visit to some Studio.”
One fine day as I entered Enayat Sahib’s office, I found Maulana there, waiting for Enayat Sahib. Seeing me he virtually jumped from his chair.
“It is not fair”, he said. “Infact quite foul Akbar Sahib”.
“Not fair! Foul? What do you mean Niazi Sahib.?” I asked.
“You said your office was a dull place,” he said. “But last night I watched a TV. Programme that exposed your lie.”
“Last night? A TV programme?” I muttered puzzledly. Then I remembered that Nazir Naji had interviewed Deeba, a film star.
“You mean Deeba?” “ I said with an amused smile” I can ask our film reporter Ashiq Chaudhry to arrange your meeting with her.”
“Who the hell is interested in Deeba?” Maulana blurted out. “I am talking about that young man who was interviewing her”.
“Oh Nazir Naji?” I muttered. “He is our Deputy Editor. I will ask him to see you.”
“So nice of you Akbar Sahib,” he said.
The same day I told Nazir Naji rather amusedly that Maulana Kausar Niazi was dying to meet him.
Not more than a week later I received Nazir Naji’s resignation which was totally unexpected. The reason became known to me some days afterwards. Nazir Naji’s name appeared as Editor on the masthead of Maulana Kausar Niazi’s Weekly Shahab.
